Sharing the Wealth : My Story

Mr.Spanos's writing style is very easy going, unfortunately the breadth of his subject, his life, could actually be dissected and written into multiple books.

The primary lesson that I took away from this book was "Take a chance." It is just that simple. From that lesson I became more confident in my own business.

Mr.Spanos broke away from his domineering father and then started his first business on gut instinct, dumb luck, and by taking a chance.

When you are down and out all you have is time and nothing to lose. That is the situation for many entrepreneurs, but many of them let imagined fears get in the way of them taking a chance, myself included.

If you do nothing else, buy this book simply to see where taking a chance can possibly take you. At the end of the day you might own a sports team and perform with your favorite star on stage as well.

You never know. Just take a chance.


Loved It!   December 18, 2002
 12 out of 13 found this review helpful

What an incredible example of whether I think I can, or
whether I think I can't, either way I'll be right. Spanos is
a living model of how easy we have it in the good old USA.
A wonderful person and business man we can all learn something from. Thank you Mr. Spanos!


"Sharing the Wealth"---I don't think so.   November 27, 2002
 11 out of 40 found this review helpful

The title "Sharing the Wealth" is at best a parody and at worst a misguided, self-aggrandizing description of a truly mean-spirited, evil man. The money that is now being `shared' is the hard earned cash of the citizens of San Diego. Paid-off, corrupt politicians gave Spanos, the owner of the San Diego Chargers, a contract that uses the citizens' tax money to pay him for any seats that are not sold for Chargers' games. For many years he has fielded weak, non-competitive teams with a low salary base because there was no incentive to spend money for an improved team. He was guaranteed that any seats that were not sold would be purchased at face value with taxpayers' money. Many say he has been `raping' the city and its citizens. The prices for many `club' level seats are $195 each. A ridiculous charge to watch, what has been for several years, a very substandard team. He can charge that because the seats that are not sold are purchased with taxpayer's money. Every year multiple millions are taken away from the city treasury that could be used to help the poor, feed the hungry, make desperately needed repairs, build new schools and libraries, etc., and sent to Spanos. "Sharing the Wealth"? Please---if the circumstance weren't so painful the audacity of the title would be hilarious. He is now trying to get the city to build him a new stadium and threatening to move the franchise to a different city is he does not get what he wants. Evil!


Excellent Insights   October 10, 2002
 15 out of 16 found this review helpful

This book is about one man's success. It's about the key events in his life and his response to them based on the best of his religious, family, and cultural values. It's a true rags to riches story and a timely reminder that there is just no substitute for the American Dream- a dream that is still alive and well for anyone with more of an eye towards opportunity rather than simply "security".